Not a cam cleatThat odd "hitch" is a cam cleat, often made in stainless steel. (Also "V-Jam" cleat).
Cleats like that are most often used for lightly loaded control lines. It probably holds the halyard ok, but kills the line fairly quickly, especially when it always grabs it at the same place. Something like a side-entry Clamcleat would certainly be better.I have never used that kind of cleat before. It feels uncertain- like it needs a backup on the deck? What holds the mast in place when I turtle?
The halyard will tie off at mast cleat (I like horn cleat unless convinced otherwise) and then again at horn cleat I’ll have to add on the deck. So the mast is tied in to the deck cleat. The now identified v-jam seems like a weak link to me? But this boat has been sailed with just that, so maybe it’s me? Or maybe it’s why there are no other boats found like it!What holds the rig in if you capsize?
Tried several images but nothing close. The hatch forward of the cockpit is unique, as far as I can find.Anything else unique to this boat's design or equipment? Mahogany splashguard?
Bing could search for similar "scow" images of the bow.
Are we talking about the same fitting? The line goes through the side exactly once, and it's very easy to cleat with one hand, by pushing the line under the "hook" part with your thumb. Much easier than tying it around a horn cleat.Just looked up the side-entry clam cleat but I don’t like the way the line has to thread through the sides several times then locks into the teeth.
Maybe because there is no need for it, as there's one on the mast alreadyWhy there was never a cleat on the deck I don’t know
How do you tie anything to that? If you absolutely want to tie the halyard, shouldn't you use a "regular" horn cleat there?I went through my parts and like this first ‘single loop’cleat for the mast
I would agree, but someone searching for that image has to keep in mind that Google's landlubbers don't know cleats!Not a cam cleatA cam cleat has moving parts.
I'd call that cleat a wedge cleat, but the English-speaking world seems to disagreeV-cleat is the name most everybody uses. Ronstan calls theirs a "v-jam", as they have reserved "v-cleat" for their version of the Clamcleat.
(A Clamcleat is technically a v-cleat with multiple "vees" in a row. And that name is trademarked by the English company of the same name.)
Cleats like that are most often used for lightly loaded control lines. It probably holds the halyard ok, but kills the line fairly quickly, especially when it always grabs it at the same place. Something like a side-entry Clamcleat would certainly be better.
If there are no fittings on the deck by the mast, then just don't heel more than 90°...
it seems the mast should be secured to the boat, no?
for a mast retainer (which you obviously want), I'd consider a separate line between the gooseneck and an eyestrap on the deck. You might even make it into a fully adjustable downhaul.
It actually has, because in the Sunfish that one line has those multiple functions (halyard, downhaul, retainer) only because the class rules say so. When that isn't required, it makes much more sense to let the halyard just hold up the sail, and have another line as a downhaul/retainer. Likewise, the use of horn cleats comes indirectly from the class rules. You don't really see them in boat classes in which there are other choices.It has nothing to do with class rules, which don’t concern me (even if it was a Sunfish)